Punching machine with photoelectric means to stop work carriage and actuate punch



Jan. 8, 1963 E. v. SIRUGUE 3,072,

PUNCHING MACHINE WITH PHOTOELECTRIC MEANS TO STOP WORK CARRIAGE AND ACTUATE PUNCH Filed March 11, 196 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 8, 1963 E v. SIRUGUE 3,072,003

PUNCHING MACH E WI TH PHOTOELECT MEANS TO STOP WOR ARRIAGE AND ACTUA PUNCH Filed March 11, 1960 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 8, 1963 Filed March 11, 1960 WORK CARRIAGE AND ACTUATE PUNCH E. V. SIRUGUE PUNCHING MACHINE WITH PH OTOELECTRIC MEANS TO STOP '7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 8, 1963 E. v. SIRUGUE PUNCHING MACHINE WITH PHOTOELECTRIC MEANS TO STO WORK CARRIAGE AND ACTUATE PUNCH 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 11, 1960 Fiwlk.

4 A n M A h L H w w H a h n M MM 1 m w m 7 7 E L) 3 VV! m 4 u Q m u A m w 4 Jan. 8, 1963 E. v. SIRUGUE 3,072,003 PUNCHING MACHINE WITH PHOTOELECTRIC MEANS TO STOP WORK CARRIAGE AND ACTUATE PUNCH Filed March 11, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 8, 1963 E. v. SIRUGUE 3,072,003

PUNCHING MACHINE WITH PHOTOELECTRIC MEANS To STOP WORK CARRIAGE AND ACTUATE PUNCH Filed March 11, 1960 '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Fgb' Jan. 8, 1963 E. v. SIRUGUE 3,072,003

PUNCHING MACHINE WITH TOELECTRIC MEAN 0 STOP WORK CARRIAG ND ACTUATE PUNC Filed March 11, 1960 'r Sheets-Sheet 7 United States Patent 3,072,003 PUNCHING MACHENE WITH PHOTDELEETREC MEANS TO STOP WORK CARRIAGE AND ACTU- ATE PUNCH Edouard Victor Sirugue, Paris, France, assignor to Etaiilissements Sirngue & Cie, Societe a Responsabilite Limitee, Saint-Ouch, France Filed Mar. 11, 1960, Ser. No. 14,404 2 Claims. (Cl. 83-213) This invention relates in general to punching machines and has specific reference to improvements in punching presses and the like.

As a rule, conventional-type presses for punching irons andsections comprise a fixed punching station, and beds on either side of the punching station for feeding and working the sections.

It is necessary firstly to adjust the vertical position of these beds with respect to the plane of the punching die, then to adjust the lateral position of the sections with respect to the punch proper, and finally to cause the sections to be fed and stopped at exactly the locations where the punching step proper is to be effected.

Therefore, these machines require a considerable manpower and a loss of time for positioning and adjusting these various elements.

it is the essential object of this invention to reduce to a minimum the manpower and time required for the operation of machines of the aforesaid character and as known up to now.

To this end, the improved automatic punching press according to this invention for punching sections and like strip material, which comprises a bed for feeding the sections and a working bed which are located on either side of the punching station, the latter comprising at least one punching unit, a carriage movable along the working bed for displacing the sections in relation to the punching station, is characterized in that the carriage is stopped automatically at the different locations where the punching step proper is to be effected, by stop-blocks disposed.

longitudinally on a bed provided with a scale, the relative spacing of these stop blocks corresponding to the desired spacing between the successive punching operations, means being also provided for, on the one hand, locking said carriage in the punching position and aut matically and selectively releasing one or more of said punching units for operation when said carriage is stopped, and on the other hand causing the carriage to move immediately after the punching operation has been completed, so that the press is capable of effecting simultaneously one or more punching operations on one or more sections, during the same displacement of the carriage.

The positioning stop-blocks are adapted to actuate mechanically contacts carried by the movable carriage.

According to a modified form of embodiment of this invention, said stop-blocks may also be arranged to block or intersect the light beam of one or more control units consisting of a light source and a photocell carried by said movable carriage.

In order to afford a clearer understanding of this invention and of the manner in which the same may be carried out in practice, reference will now be made to.

the accompanying drawings forming part, of this specification and illustrating diagrammatically by way of example a typical form of embodiment ofv the invention. in the drawings:

FiGURE l is a perspective view showing a punching machine comprising a single punching unit.

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the punching station and the section clamping device.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the FIGURE 6 is an elevational view of the punching station of a punching press comprising two punching units.

FIGURES7, 8 and 9 of the photocell-controlled release of a two punching units. The automatic punching machine illustrated in FIGS.

machine comprisl to 4 of the drawings comprises essentially a punching station designated in general by the reference numeral 1 and located between a first bed 2 for feeding the sections to the punching station, this bed being positioned before this station 1, and a working bed 3 positioned af-- ter this station 1. The sections to be punched are shown past the punchingstation 1 which they'are sub returned in the opposite on the feed bed 2; they travel and then on the working bed 3 from sequently taken or, if desired, direction to the feed bed 2.

The feed bed 2 consists essentially of a pair of tra'ns-' verse rollers 4 supported by parallel longitudinal U-sectioned beams 5 bearing in turn on uprights 6. The last roller 7 of the feed bed is slightly inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of this bed in order to cause a slight transverse or lateral displacement of thesections to be punched, so that these sections will bear against a stopwill be explained provided at the punching station, as presently.

The punching station 1 comprises essentially a frame 8 movable vertically with respect to a base 9. The device controlling the vertical movements'of this frame 8 will be described presently with reference to FIG. 4' of the drawings.

In this example, the frame 8 carries a single punching unit of conventional design, that is, comprising a motor 11 driving a flywheel protected by'a case 12 and adapted to drive in turn, through the medium of a. one revolution clutch 13, the vertical movements of the punch 14. An

electromagnet 15 is adapted, when energized, to engage the clutch 13 in order to effect the punching operation proper, that is, the downward and upward strokes of the punch 14. A normally closed switch or contact 16 opens immediately as the'clutch 13 is actuated by the electromagnet 15. The function of this switch or contact 16 willbe explained presently in the description of the electric circuit of the machine.

The frame 8 carries opposite the punch 14a die 17 and,

on either side of this die 17 and of the punch 14, lateral stops in the form of transverse wheels 18 and 19 are: provided, the transverse position of these wheels 18, 19'

vided at the punching station. These rollers 7 and will therefore constantly urge the sections for engagement with, the. respective-wheels- 18 and,19,.that is, with wheel 18 during the operative stroke, and with wheel 19 during thereturn stroke (if ,need be). Thus, for each direction of. travel. of the sections'there is obtained a well-defined plane/of reference so that the transverse dimensions can be accurately determined therefrom.

The different rollers 21 and the inclined roller 22 of the" W are elevational views showingduterent forms of embodiments of stop-blocks in the case working bed 3 are mounted on a pair of parallel, U-sectioned longitudinal beams 23 carried in turn by uprights 24. A side bed 25 is carried by one of these beams 23 and has secured on its lower portion a longitudinal rack 26. A carriage 27 is displaceable longitudinally in relation to the bed 3 by means of wheels such as the carrier wheels 28 rolling on the lateral bed 25 (see FIG. 3) and guide wheels 30 rolling on a vertical face of the rack 26. The carrier and guide wheels are disposed, of course, on either side of the working bed 3. The function of the carriage 27 is to carry along the sections in either direction. To this end, the carriage is provided with a motor 29 adapted, through a reducing gear (not shown), to drive a pinion in meshing engagement with the rack 26. A braking device is also provided for stopping the motor 29 when the latter is de-energized.

. tA clamping device 31 is mounted on the movable carriage 27 with the assistance of a slideway permitting a vertical adjustment thereof by means of a handwheel 32, and is adapted to be locked by means of an eccentric lever 32a. This clamp 31 comprises a fixed lower jaw 31a and a movable upper jaw 31b pivoted on the lower jaw, the front edge of the section being clamped between the two jaws. The rollers 21 are formed with a groove 21a in their intermediate portion to permit the passage of the lower jaw 31a of clamp 31.

Secured laterally of the clamp 31 is a stop 33 the position of which can be adjusted in the transverse direction to constitute a lateral reference mark.

The lateral bed 25 carries a scale and is formed with a pair of longitudinal grooves 25a and 25b in which stopblocks 34 can be fitted at a relative spacing corresponding to the intervals between successive punching operations to be carried out on the sections. Each groove 25a, 25b has associated therewith a contact 35 carried by the movable carriage 27. In this example a contact such as 35 (not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 but visible at 35AV in the diagram of FIG. co-acts with the stop-blocks inserted in the groove 25a and is operative during the forward stroke of the section, while the other contact 35 (shown in FIG. 3 and designated by the symbol 35AR in FIG. 5) is associated with the groove 25b and is operative during the return stroke.

The movable arm 35a of contacts 35 are actuated, during the travel of carriage 2'7, each time they engage a fixed stop-block 34.

. The actuation of the movable arms 35a, as will be seen more in detail presently is attended by the de-energization of the motor 29 driving the carriage 27 and of an electromagnet 70 (FIG. 5) releasing the braking device associated with this carriage, and subsequently by the energization of the electromagnet 71 and for locking the carriage 27 and releasing the punching means to effect the punching operation proper, respectively.

According to a modified form of embodiment of this invention, an assembly comprising a light source and a photocell associated therewith may be substituted for the contacts 35, and in this case the only function of the stopblocks 34 will be to block the light beam received by the photocell and to release in the same manner the means for de-energizing the motor 29 and the electromagnet 70 and subsequently causing the energization of electromagnets 71 and 15.

According to a further modification, the mechanically mounted stop-blocks 34 may be replaced by magnetized keys disposed along the bed 25, the latter comprising simply a scale instead of longitudinal grooves a and 25b.

The operation .of the punching machine according to this invention is controlled from an operating desk or control board 36 carrying the usual ON and OFF push-buttons 37 and 38, a reversing switch 39 controlling the forward and return strokes, and another reversing switch 40 controllingathe, automatic or non-automatic operation of the machine. A tell-tale lamp 41 is also provided to indicate the state of operation of the machine.

Now reference will be made to FIG. 4 of the drawings to describe the mechanism controlling the vertical displacements of the frame 8 of the punching station. This frame -8 carries a motor 42 rotatably driving a worm 43 meshing with a tangent worm Wheel 44 rigid with a threaded shaft -45 supporting the frame 8 through the medium of a ball-bearing 47. This threaded shaft 45 is screwed in a fixed nut 46a carried by a tubular member 45 rigid with the base 9 of the machine. Thus, when the motor 42 rotates in one or the other direction, the threaded shaft 45 is also rotated and therefore caused to move up or downwards, together with the frame 8 carried thereby, with respect to the base 9. Under these conditions, the level of the punching die with respect to that of beds 2 and 3 can be adjusted with a relatively high degree of precision in order to accommodate differences in height or thickness of the sections to be punched.

Safety limit-switches are inserted in the feed circuit of the motor 42 for preventing the movable members of the machine from travelling beyond the proper limits. If desired, other safety switches and contacts may be provided for de-energizing the motor 42 as long as one of the motors 11 or 29 is energized, in order to avoid any troublesome encounter.

The operation of the machine according to this invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 5

showing the electrical circuits for the automatic control of the machine.

The remote-control system associated with this machine is fed with single-phase AC. from the mains 50. Connected to these mains is the primary of a transformer 51 having its secondary adapted to supply current to the various relays of the control system of the machine. The control desk comprises, as already explained, a pushbutton 37 for starting the machine (ON), a push-button 38 for stopping the machine (OFF a reversing switch 39 controlling the forward or return stroke of the machine, another reversing switch 40 controlling the automatic operation of the machine, and finally a tell-tale lamp 41. The relay 52 or general circuit relay is energized immediately as the push-button 37 is depressed and controls in turn the supply of energizing current to the various relays of the machine. This relay 52 is kept in its energized condition by holding contacts 520 and by the push-button 38 in its closed position.

The contacts 52!: and 52b being closed immediately as the push-button 37 is depressed, the light 41 will be put on to warn the operator that the machine is ready to operate. Assuming now that the reversing switch 40 is in the position shown in FIG. 5 which corresponds to the automatic operation, the movable carriage will then move and carry along the section to be punched, and as a result the section will be brought to its punching position in front of the punching station. In the example illustrated in FIG. 5, this displacement takes place during the forward or return stroke according to the position in which the reversing switch 39 is set. The relay 35 controlling the energization of the motor 29 in. the direction corresponding to the forward stroke of thecarriage is actually energized through the following cir-- cuit: wire 53, closed contact 57 (the latter opening only at the end of the forward stroke of the carriage), relay 55, contact 39a of reversing switch 39, closed contact 59a (the relay 59 is not energized since the contact 62a is open), closed contact 16 (this contact opens immedi ately as the punching operation proper begins, and remains open until this operation is completed), closed contact 35AV, contact 39b of reversing switch 39, and Wire 54. It will be seen that a parallel circuit is provided which comprises the return limit-switch 58, the reverse stroke relay 56 and the contact 35AR carried by the movable carriage, this parallel circuit becoming operative during the return stroke of the movable carriage.

In the example illustrated and described herein the motor 29 is fed with three-phase current from the net: work R, S, T. Contacts 55b, 55c, 55d and 56b, 56c, 56d of relays 55 and 56 respectively are interposed in the feed wires. The closing of contacts 55b, 55c and 55d during the period in which relay 55 is energized causes the motor 29 to rotate in the direction corresponding to the forward stroke of the carriage, whereas the closing of; contacts 56b, 56c and 56d will reverse the direction of rotation.

From the diagram of FIG. 5 it will be readily appreciated that each time the motor 29 is energized, the electromagnet 70 controlling the braking device is also energized.

Thus, from the time the operator has depressed the ON button 37, the carriage will move forward since the reversing switch 39 is on the Forward position. When the movable arm of contact 35AV engages a stopblock 34 secured on the bed 25, the opening of contact 35AV causes the de-energization of the forward-operation relay 55 and, therefore, the opening of contacts 55b, 55c and 55d, and the stoppage of motor 29.

The electromagnet 7% connected in parallel to the feed circuit of motor 29 is thus de-energized and causes the application of a brake mounted on the mechanism driving the carriage which is connected to the motor.

According to another modification, a brake-motor may be substituted if desired for the motor 29 and the electromagnet 70.

It may be emphasized that a relay 60 is mounted in parallel to the aforesaid relays 55 and 56. Thus, this relay 60 will be energized each time one of the relays 55 or 56 is energized. This energization of relay 60 will cause the transfer of the contact 60a and thus permit the charging of a capacitor 61 through a diode 63. As a mat ter of fact, the contact 52d of the general circuit relay 52 is open in this case. As the relay 60 is de-energized due to the de-energization of relay 55, the contact 60a resumes its inoperative position in which it is shown, and capacitor 61 will be discharged through the winding of relay 62 to close the contact 62a thereof.

The closing of contacts 62a causes the energization of the punching control relay 59 through the following circuit: wire 53, relay 59, closed contact 56a, closed contact 55a, closed contact 62a, reversing switch 4f, wire 54. As a consequence of the energization of relay 59, contacts 59b and 590 thereof are closed and therefore both electromagnets and 71 are energized. 'Ihe electromagnet 71 will thus control the locking of carriage 27 in its punching position and, therefore, the accurate positioning of the section to be punched.

This locking action is obtained through a device comprising a pinion carried by the carriage 27, which is in meshing engagement with the aforesaid rack 26; this pinion is coupled with a dog wheel the meshing engagement of which with a fixed dog wheel, which results from the energization of the electromagnet 71, causes this pinion to be locked on the rack 26 and therefore the carriage 27 to be locked relative to the punching station of the machine.

It may be noted that the relay 62 causing the energization of the relay 59 is energized only when the relay 6% is in its inoperative position, thus causing a time shift with respect to the de-energization of relay 55- which breaks momentarily the energization of the electromagnet 70, so that the brake of carriage 27 is applied. This time shift enables the locking action to occur at a Welldefined moment, that is, nearly at the end of the braking time.

The electromagnet 15 controls the one-revolution clutch 13 illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1. As a result, the punching mechanism, from that moment on, is driven and the contact 16 opened immediately as this operation begins.

According to a further modified embodiment, the electromagnet 70 controlling the independent braking action may also be used for controlling the braking of carriage 27 in the punching position thereof. To this end, a mechanical relay and a mechanical time-lag device are provided which are so connected to the electromagnet 70 as to become operative when this electromagnet is de-energized. These relay and time-lag means are adapted, at a predetermined moment, to control the locking system as already described hereinabove.

Relay 59 is energized only during a short time period corresponding to the discharge of the capacitor 61 in the winding of relay 62.

Consequently, the contact 59a re-closes after a certain time and simultaneously both contacts 5% and 590 open. The opening of contacts 5% and 59c is attended by the de-energization of electromagnets 15 and 71, and therefore by the release of any locking action exerted upon the carriage 27.

When the contact 59a is re-closed, contact 16 is still open and the forwardor return-stroke relays 55 and 56 cannot be energized as long as the punching operation is not completed.

Upon completion of this punching operation, the closing of contact 16 entails the re-energization in. parallel of relays 55 and 60, so that the motor 29 and the electromagnet 70 are energized again, the braking system being released. Thus, the carriage is driven again until the movable arm of contact 35AV engages the next stopblock. Therefore, the same cycle of operation is repeated automatically, and to each engagement of a stopblock 34 there corresponds an automatic punching operation.

At the end of the forward stroke, the opening of contact 57 prevents the carriage 27 from continuing its travel in the same direction.

If the operating program of the machine contemplates another cycle of punching operations during the return stroke, the operator will transfer the reversing switch 39 so that the relay 56 will be energized immediately as the ON push-button 37 is depressed.

If it is desired to suppress the automatic operation of the machine, this can be effected by simply transferring the reversing switch 40 which short-circuits the contacts 35AV and 35AR. As a result, the carriage 27 will travel continuously in one or the other direction, ac cording to the position of the reversing switch 39.

Of course, various modifications may be devised by those conversant with the art, for example in connection with the form of embodiment of the machine and the arrangement of the driving devices thereof without departing from the principles of the invention. Thus, instead of periodically breaking the energizing circuit of the motor 29 driving the movable carriage 27, this motor could be energized continuously and its output shaft provided with an electromagnetic clutch controlled by the aforesaid contacts or switches 35AV and 35AR.

A modified form of embodiment of this invention will now be described with specific reference to a machine comprising two punching units.

FIG. 6 illustrates separately the punching station of the machine, the other components of the machine being onthe other hand identical with those already described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4 of the drawings.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the punching station comprises two identical punching units, but it will be readily understood that this number is not critical since more than two punching units may be provided in a single machine, according to needs, without departing from the basic principles of the invention.

Both punching units are driven from a central shaft 8% through separate reducing gears the output pinion of which is in meshing engagement with the toothed input wheels 81, 82 of the two punching units, respectively. These wheels 81, 82 are rigid with primary shafts of two dog clutches controlled by electromagnets 83, 84 respectively. These dog clutches are of any type already known per se and therefore their detailed description is not necessary. The secondary shafts 85, 86 of the dog clutches drive through eccentric members 87, 88 and connectingrods 89, 90 the punch-carrying slides 91, 92 for reciprocating same vertically.

These slides 91, 92 are formed at their lower portion with a longitudinal groove adapted to receive one or more punch-holders such as 93, 94. The punches proper 95, 96 are adjustable transversely according to the desired relative spacing of the punched holes.

Secured on the frame 97 of the punching unit are die-holders 98, 99 co-acting respectively with the punches 95, 96 as shown. On the other hand, this frame 97 carries lateral guide means 100, 101.

In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the punching operation is carried out through the web 102 of an I- sectioned element having its wings guided by rollers 103 and 104. r

This machine operates as follows:

When during the travel of the carriage, the latter is stopped by a stop-block 34 (the form and arrangement of which will be described presently) one or both electromagnets 83, 84 is or are energized immediately thereafter. If both electromagnets 83, 84 are energized simultaneously, the punch-holding slides 91, 92 will be imparted simultaneously a reciprocating motion comprising a descending stroke and an ascending stroke, whereby the punches 95, 96 become operative.

The section 102 is thus punched at two locations having the same longitudinal dimension. On the other hand,

if only one electromagnet 83 or 84 is energized, only one punch 95 or 96 will be operative and the section is punched at only one location.

FIGS. 7 to 9 of the drawings show different types of stop-blocks suitable for controlling the stoppage of the carriage of the machine by means of photocell control units.

In the example illustrated the machine comprising two punching units has its carriage 105 equipped with two identical control uni-ts associated with these punching units respectively, that is, a first light source 106 registering with a first photocell 107 consisting for example of a photodiode, and also another light source 108 registering with another photocell 109. These control units 106107 and 108109 are disposed at different levels.

In FIG. 7 the stop-block 110 illustrated is adapted to control the simultaneous operation of the two punching units. To this end it comprises two arms 110a adapted respectively to block the light beam emitted from the light sources 106 and 108 towards the cells 107, 109, respectively.

This stop block 110 may be secured magnetically on the bed carrying the scale for determining the longitudinal position of the holes to be punched.

In FIG. 8, the stop-block 111, illustrated, is formed with a single arm 111a adapted to block the light beam issuing from the light source 106 and therefore to control the operation of only one punching unit, that is, the one associated with this source.

Finally, in FIG. 9 the stop-block 112 illustrated comprises similarly a single arm 112a adapted to block the light beam emitted from the light source 108 alone.

By properly modifying the die-holders 98, 99 and the lateral guides 100, 101, it is possible to effect a plurality of punching operations on a same wing of a section disposed vertically in this case.

The machine according to this invention may also be used for punching simultaneously several sections, such as angle-irons, disposed in parallel relationship to one another.

In this case, the movable carriage should comprise as many clamping devices as there are sections to be punched.

What I claim is:

1. An automatic punching machine, notably for irons and like sections, comprising a punching station, a section feed bed and a working bed on either side of said punching station, said punching station comprising a first and a second punching device, a carriage movable along said working bed and adapted to cause the sections to travel past said punching station, means for producing the move ment of translation of said carriage, positioning stopblocks disposed longitudinally on the path of said movable carriage, the relative longitudinal spacing of said stopblocks corresponding to the intervals between the holes to be punched, first and second photo-electric cell units carried by said movable carriage and consisting each of a photo-cell and a light source, said stop-blocks being so disposed as to shut out the light beam received by said photo-cells of said photo-electric cell units, said first and second photoelectric cell units controlling on the one hand, both of them, the stoppage of means for displacing said movable carriage and on the other hand, respectively, the actuation of said first and second punching devices, each stop-block comprising at least one vertical arm, that is, either a first arm, or a second arm, or simultaneously a first arm and a second arm, said first and second photoelectric cell units being so mounted and positioned on said carriage that during the carriage displacement the first arm of said stop-block shuts out only the light received by the first photo-cell of said first photo-electric cell unit, thereby causing the carriage to stop and the actuation of said first punching device, and that said second arm of said stop-blocks shuts out only the light beam received by the photo-cell of said second photoelectric cell unit, thereby causing said carriage to stop and the actuation of said second punching device.

2. A punching machine as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first and second arms have different heights and said first and second photo-electric cell units are mounted on said movable carriage also at different levels and with a relative horizontal spacing such that each first arm can only block the light beam of said first photo-electric cell unit and that each second arm can only block the light beam of said second photo-electric cell unit.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,637,013 Thomas July 26, 1927 1,796,939 Pollasky Mar. 17, 1931 1,989,071 Anderson Jan. 29, 1935 2,187,827 Eickman Jan. 23, 1940 2,628,680 Seybold Feb. 17, 1953 2,852,629 Sacher Sept. 16, 1958 

1. AN AUTOMATIC PUNCHING MACHINE, NOTABLY FOR IRONS AND LIKE SECTIONS, COMPRISING A PUNCHING STATION, A SECTION FEED BED AND A WORKING BED ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID PUNCHING STATION, SAID PUNCHING STATION COMPRISING A FIRST AND A SECOND PUNCHING DEVICE, A CARRIAGE MOVABLE ALONG SAID WORKING BED AND ADAPTED TO CAUSE THE SECTIONS TO TRAVEL PAST SAID PUNCHING STATION, MEANS FOR PRODUCING THE MOVEMENT OF TRANSLATION OF SAID CARRIAGE, POSITIONING STOPBLOCKS DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY ON THE PATH OF SAID MOVABLE CARRIAGE, THE RELATIVE LONGITUDINAL SPACING OF SAID STOPBLOCKS CORRESPONDING TO THE INTERVALS BETWEEN THE HOLES TO BE PUNCHED, FIRST AND SECOND PHOTO-ELECTRIC CELL UNITS CARRIED BY SAID MOVABLE CARRIAGE AND CONSISTING EACH OF A PHOTO-CELL AND A LIGHT SOURCE, SAID STOP-BLOCKS BEING SO DISPOSED AS TO SHUT OUT THE LIGHT BEAM RECEIVED BY SAID PHOTO-CELLS OF SAID PHOTO-ELECTRIC CELL UNITS, SAID FIRST AND SECOND PHOTO-ELECTRIC CELL UNITS CONTROLLING ON THE ONE HAND, BOTH OF THEM, THE STOPPAGE OF MEANS FOR DISPLACING SAID MOVABLE CARRIAGE AND ON THE OTHER HAND, RESPECTIVELY, THE ACTUATION OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND PUNCHING DEVICES, EACH STOP-BLOCK COMPRISING AT LEAST ONE VERTICAL ARM, THAT IS, EITHER A FIRST ARM, OR A SECOND ARM, OR SIMULTANEOUSLY A FIRST ARM AND A SECOND ARM, SAID FIRST AND SECOND PHOTOELECTRIC CELL UNITS BEING SO MOUNTED AND POSITIONED ON SAID CARRIAGE THAT DURING THE CARRIAGE DISPLACEMENT THE FIRST ARM OF SAID STOP-BLOCK SHUTS OUT ONLY THE LIGHT RECEIVED BY THE FIRST PHOTO-CELL OF SAID FIRST PHOTO-ELECTRIC CELL UNIT, THEREBY CAUSING THE CARRIAGE TO STOP AND THE ACTUATION OF SAID FIRST PUNCHING DEVICE, AND THAT SAID SECOND ARM OF SAID STOP-BLOCKS SHUTS OUT ONLY THE LIGHT BEAM RECEIVED BY THE PHOTO-CELL OF SAID SECOND PHOTOELECTRIC CELL UNIT, THEREBY CAUSING SAID CARRIAGE TO STOP AND THE ACTUATION OF SAID SECOND PUNCHING DEVICE. 